what sort of physical abuse can well protected camera equipment endure?

Guess that massive ZD would be hard to take on board then? ;-)

I've been looking for a camera-specific bag that fits into the new dimensions, but no luck so far. 16cm deep isn't too bad, some of my lenses are shorter than that. No way I could get my normal camera bag on though, LOL!

Cheers!

Charles

Quentin (UK) said:

Charles old bean,

the regs have just been relaxed a bit. You could probably take the
more delicate bits on board in the new laptop-sized bag now
permitted - a couple of bodies and a lens or two.
--
Quentin
http://www.brightnewlight.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/
--
'Where have I been all my life?'

Click to expand...

Hey apprill,

I actually used one of those locks on a trip from the UK to New York this past June. When flying back out of NY to London, I asked the check-in guy if it was ok that I'd locked my bags, and he said "sure, if you want the locks drilled out", but when I specified that I was using one of those locks that the customs guys could unlock, he kinda grunted (which I took as "oh, I guess that's ok then).

Be that as it may, my locks weren't drilled out.

When I bought this lock, the package specified that it was for the US authorities, nothing about any other country.

And to be honest, if anybody has a pass key to these locks, how hard is it going to be for an unscrupulous person to get a key too? I look at this lock as more of a mild deterrent, to be honest (heck, it's be a piece of cake to cut anyways!).

Chas

apprill said:

what about the rules that you can't lock your checked luggage do
any of you use the locks that airport staff can open but then you
can tell by the color of the tumbler on the lock that your luggage
was opened/ inspected or do you just check in your luggage unlocked?

Click to expand...

Hey Benjammer,

I plan to put my hard case inside another bag to disguise it a bit. Might make the x-ray guys checking out the hold luggage a little more suspicious, but it's better than having that "there-is-expensive-stuff-in-here" case directly openable.

Chas

Benjammer said:

Oh man, you cant lock it? if You have a nice expenive pelican case
it might make some people curious to see whats inside

--
Meow
http://public.fotki.com/LindoPhotography/

Click to expand...

Yeah, but did they get egg on the camera and lenses? I'd think that dried egg in a zoom lens might reduce its focussing speed a bit ;-)

Chas

dogwood said:

Practical Photography magazine did a test in the current issue
(well, current in the US... may be last months issue in the UK) of
a Pelican case with a camera and some eggs inside-- they even
dropped it off a waterfall if I remember correctly! One egg did
break in the final test-- the camera kept working though.

--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com

Click to expand...

Hi Martin, I wouldn't call this OT at all.

The hard case I'm using is not a Pelican (nor a Lowepro), but I think that the Lowepro cases would be just as good, as far as protection is concerned (I don't know why the Pelican cases are usually the first ones recommended when people ask about hard cases, I'd be curious to find out though).

I do know that you can get the Pelican cases with either the foam cubes you pick out, or with dividers. I read somewhere else in these forums that the dividers work very well (you just have to pack things so they don't move around).

Cheers!

Chas

Martin Ligr said:

This is slightly OT strictly speaking, but does somebody have
thoughts on Lowepro Omni Traveler & Traveler Extreme combo?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=128388&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://lowepro.com/Products/Hard_and_Soft_Shell/classic/Omni_Traveler_and_Traveler_Extreme.aspx

I wonder if the interior case provides similar protection from
impact as the foam in Pelican cases.

Martin

Click to expand...

Hiya,

Lenses off cameras is a given!

The idea of packing a hard case inside a soft one for camouflage is a good one, I'm going to source a cheap bag today.

I mentioned above that I flew into NY from the UK with one of those TSA locks. To be honest, I can't see any luggage-specific lock being anything more than a mild deterrent, as the bar part of the lock is so thin that is must be easy to cut (and as for the TSA locks, your quotes around "authorities" are appropriate, if the "authorities" have keys, then the "not-authorities" have keys too :-/

Chas

edleg said:

Think about detaching your lenses from your DSLR bodies. I know I
travel locally with lenses attached to DSLR bodies in padded camera
bags, but the potentially added stress to mount couplings could be
a heart (err, camera) breaker from the abuse and shocks from
airline baggage handlers and equipment.

I used to travel with camera and computer equipment packed in
locked aluminum cases and then put the cases in large duffel bags
with some foam stuffing around (not for padding, but for
camoflauge).

Now though, you either cannot use locks or have to use TSA approved
locks (here in the states) which can be easily unlocked by the
"authorities."

Sounds like the destination camera rental companies and the air
freight companies are going to get lots more business!

Click to expand...

Hi charles,

The ZD is not so big really. I recon I could easily get the body plus a couple of lenses in the carry on. I confess I don't understand the logic of the size restriction at all, except its big enough to shut up the buisness class passengers who want to use a laptop...

Q.

chasg said:

I've been looking for a camera-specific bag that fits into the new
dimensions, but no luck so far. 16cm deep isn't too bad, some of my
lenses are shorter than that. No way I could get my normal camera
bag on though, LOL!

Cheers!

Charles

Quentin (UK) said:

Charles old bean,

the regs have just been relaxed a bit. You could probably take the
more delicate bits on board in the new laptop-sized bag now
permitted - a couple of bodies and a lens or two.
--
Quentin
http://www.brightnewlight.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/
--
'Where have I been all my life?'

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Quentin
http://www.brightnewlight.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/
--
'Where have I been all my life?'

Most of my work is based around Europe, so I fly quie a bit.

Even before this increased security at Heathrow ALL of my gear went into a Peli case and went into the hold, I would give you a flight count if I kept a tally, but I haven't. I can tell you the case has been on flights to and from: Dubai, Seychelles, Antigua, Bahamas, Morocco, The Canary Islands, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal. Many of those places I've been to a number of times.

It's been knocked, banged, dropped, thrown in the back of cabs, fallen out of cabs, Slid off onto concrete, left standing in the rain for two hours (thanks Ryan Air!) and in spite of all of this, my cameras come out of the other side intact.

IF any thing did happen, my gear is insured. I've done everything I can, if the airlines screw up it's not my fault.

I used to carry my laptop with me, but that was so I could work on the flight...dunno what I'll do now, it will prolly go in my Peli case as well if I can fit it in there!

I have a big pelicase that used to hold:

2 35mm bodies
1 wangle
1 medium
1 long
1 pentax 6x7
1 fsh eye
1 wangle
1 standard lens
1 quantum
2 550ex

Now it holds
2 35mm bodies (1dsmkII & 5D)
1 wangle
1 medium
1 long
1 quantum
2 550ex
and all the blooming chargers as well as a nixvue just to back up the shoot

I've got a lock on it, that isn't approved (haven't flown to the states for work in a few years) and I've never had any problems with people drilling it or refusing to let it go on board

Sometimes it goes straight down the chute, sometimes it goes in oversized/fragile

Sometimes I've had to open the case at the oversized baggage, sometimes I've been called to security to open the case.

Nothing is constant.

The only advise I can give is toget insurance, buy a peli case, turn up as the check in open and play it from there.

My cameras die because of corrosion, not cos they've been dropped in a Peli Case
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Heya,

I read somewhere today that the new size had something to do with easy searchability. I also saw in the FT today that the new restrictions are likely to become permanent (can't say I'm surprised, I think that the airlines have been very frustrated for years at not getting us passengers to put our carry-on luggage in those little "your luggage must fit here" cages at check-in ;-)

This could be the push we need to finally design decent wearable computers!

I saw your first ZD demo pic in the FSLR forum, liking it? (I remember the lust in your eyes at Focus, I knew you'd eventually get it ;-)

Charles

Quentin (UK) said:

The ZD is not so big really. I recon I could easily get the body
plus a couple of lenses in the carry on. I confess I don't
understand the logic of the size restriction at all, except its big
enough to shut up the buisness class passengers who want to use a
laptop...

Q.

chasg said:

I've been looking for a camera-specific bag that fits into the new
dimensions, but no luck so far. 16cm deep isn't too bad, some of my
lenses are shorter than that. No way I could get my normal camera
bag on though, LOL!

Cheers!

Charles

Quentin (UK) said:

Charles old bean,

the regs have just been relaxed a bit. You could probably take the
more delicate bits on board in the new laptop-sized bag now
permitted - a couple of bodies and a lens or two.
--
Quentin
http://www.brightnewlight.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/
--
'Where have I been all my life?'

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Quentin
http://www.brightnewlight.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/micropayment/
--
'Where have I been all my life?'

Click to expand...

Hi Graham,

Many thanks for your reply, this is exactly the sort of testimonial I've been looking for to set my mind at ease

Looks like I've been too precious about my equipment all this time!

Oh, by the way, the latest easing of the severe restrictions allows for laptops in a very small carry-on bag (link to the latest allowances/restrictions in an early reply to my original post), but I personally think the restrictions will not be eased any further (that's a lot of cubic space being wasted on every flight, oh well!)

Thanks again,

Chas

Graham Snook said:

Most of my work is based around Europe, so I fly quie a bit.

Even before this increased security at Heathrow ALL of my gear went
into a Peli case and went into the hold, I would give you a flight
count if I kept a tally, but I haven't. I can tell you the case has
been on flights to and from: Dubai, Seychelles, Antigua, Bahamas,
Morocco, The Canary Islands, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia,
Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, Spain,
Portugal. Many of those places I've been to a number of times.

It's been knocked, banged, dropped, thrown in the back of cabs,
fallen out of cabs, Slid off onto concrete, left standing in the
rain for two hours (thanks Ryan Air!) and in spite of all of this,
my cameras come out of the other side intact.

IF any thing did happen, my gear is insured. I've done everything I
can, if the airlines screw up it's not my fault.

I used to carry my laptop with me, but that was so I could work on
the flight...dunno what I'll do now, it will prolly go in my Peli
case as well if I can fit it in there!

I have a big pelicase that used to hold:

2 35mm bodies
1 wangle
1 medium
1 long
1 pentax 6x7
1 fsh eye
1 wangle
1 standard lens
1 quantum
2 550ex

Now it holds
2 35mm bodies (1dsmkII & 5D)
1 wangle
1 medium
1 long
1 quantum
2 550ex
and all the blooming chargers as well as a nixvue just to back up
the shoot

I've got a lock on it, that isn't approved (haven't flown to the
states for work in a few years) and I've never had any problems
with people drilling it or refusing to let it go on board

Sometimes it goes straight down the chute, sometimes it goes in
oversized/fragile

Sometimes I've had to open the case at the oversized baggage,
sometimes I've been called to security to open the case.

Nothing is constant.

The only advise I can give is toget insurance, buy a peli case,
turn up as the check in open and play it from there.

My cameras die because of corrosion, not cos they've been dropped
in a Peli Case
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Click to expand...

CF cards being as small as they are, last time I came through customs I had 4 x 2gb card in my wallet on the inside pockets.

Might be an idea to keep them in there on the return journey, as long as you don't hve your wallet pinched you'll be fine
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Just heard on the news that BA have lost over 10,000 items of baggage since this extra security began, 6,000 of which have still to be returned to their owners

If that wasn't bad enough theft from baggage has increased

Can you put your job off for a few weeks? :-D
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

...I could put it off! (but only 'cause of the flying issues, the job itself is going to be fun)

I watched the news last night with a real sinking feeling, that's a lot of lost bags!

I certainly will be carrying my CF cards on my person (well, in my wallet in a clear plastic bag...), but that all assumes that my equipment will reach me when I first get to the job!

Now that passengers can carry on a small bag, I'm going to look into some way of carrying on my stuff, instead of risking its loss (I envision an endless room with thousands of lost bags mixed in with an infinite number of odd socks...)

Chas

ps. I just took a look at your online gallery, very nice work. It just so happens that the job I'm going on is on a 12m sailboat. My first time doing a job like this, any tips? (photos will be used for advertising for the company that owns the boat, but I'd also like to get some stock shots and personal work).

Graham Snook said:

Just heard on the news that BA have lost over 10,000 items of
baggage since this extra security began, 6,000 of which have still
to be returned to their owners

If that wasn't bad enough theft from baggage has increased

Can you put your job off for a few weeks? :-D
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Click to expand...

chasg said:

Now that passengers can carry on a small bag, I'm going to look
into some way of carrying on my stuff, instead of risking its loss
(I envision an endless room with thousands of lost bags mixed in
with an infinite number of odd socks...)

Click to expand...

To be honest I don't think they'll let you carry your gear on...If you really want to give it a go, take a friend who can hold the Peli case at the airport for you...that way you don't have to waste 15 mins going back to the (extortionate £46.20 for 2 days 5 hours!!!) longstay car park, another 5 mins to get to your car and load stuff, then another 15 mins back add another 20 mins in the queue and you've lost 5 mins short of an hour!

If you haven't got someone you know with a day off, use the peli case, otherwise it will be an unprotected bag going down the chute!

The only other way might be to ask if it can go in the front hold, so you carry it and leave it with the push chairs before boarding the plane...But I don't this at this current time it will work...only problem is (depending on where you're flying to) is that your camera has to go through with the rest of the luggage at the other end...if it's a small airport it's not a problem, if it's a biggy like Palma Mallora, you're stuffed, well your gear is!

chasg said:

ps. I just took a look at your online gallery, very nice work. It
just so happens that the job I'm going on is on a 12m sailboat. My
first time doing a job like this, any tips? (photos will be used
for advertising for the company that owns the boat, but I'd also
like to get some stock shots and personal work).

Click to expand...

Thanx

Around a 40 footer, not too big not too small, enough room for you and the crew on board with out getting in the way.

What's the brief?

What are you shooting? (sailing shots? interiors? anchored shots? people? places? etc)
Do you know what you will be shooting from, rib? other boat?
Where is the shoot?

G
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Hi again Graham,

Good points, I'm going to see if I can get a definitive answer as to whether or not I can get photo gear on a place (I don't see is in either the "not alllowed" or "allowed" lists). If not, it's the hard case and no fooling around with carry-on.

As for the job, I'm going to be based on the boat for a week and will be doing everything from interiors (I'm considering bringing my pano gear, but it's pretty heavy) to exteriors and shots while in harbour (hopefully in scenic places, I'd like to get some stock as well, not that the stock market has a future, imho). No access to a second boat, unfortunately (but maybe we'll join a regatta, and I can get some additiional stock shots, here's hoping!). We're sailing off Brittany (no easy Med voyage for us

I'm using a D2X, so it's weather sealed, but I'm wondering if you have any tips in dealing with a salt-sea atmosphere (when shooting on the coast of the Med last month while on holiday, I wiped the camera and lenses down with a fresh-water dampened cloth at the end of each day).

Cheers!

Chas

Graham Snook said:

Graham Snook said:

Now that passengers can carry on a small bag, I'm going to look
into some way of carrying on my stuff, instead of risking its loss
(I envision an endless room with thousands of lost bags mixed in
with an infinite number of odd socks...)

Click to expand...

To be honest I don't think they'll let you carry your gear on...If
you really want to give it a go, take a friend who can hold the
Peli case at the airport for you...that way you don't have to waste
15 mins going back to the (extortionate £46.20 for 2 days 5
hours!!!) longstay car park, another 5 mins to get to your car and
load stuff, then another 15 mins back add another 20 mins in the
queue and you've lost 5 mins short of an hour!

If you haven't got someone you know with a day off, use the peli
case, otherwise it will be an unprotected bag going down the chute!

The only other way might be to ask if it can go in the front hold,
so you carry it and leave it with the push chairs before boarding
the plane...But I don't this at this current time it will
work...only problem is (depending on where you're flying to) is
that your camera has to go through with the rest of the luggage at
the other end...if it's a small airport it's not a problem, if it's
a biggy like Palma Mallora, you're stuffed, well your gear is!

Graham Snook said:

ps. I just took a look at your online gallery, very nice work. It
just so happens that the job I'm going on is on a 12m sailboat. My
first time doing a job like this, any tips? (photos will be used
for advertising for the company that owns the boat, but I'd also
like to get some stock shots and personal work).

Click to expand...

Thanx

Around a 40 footer, not too big not too small, enough room for you
and the crew on board with out getting in the way.

What's the brief?
What are you shooting? (sailing shots? interiors? anchored shots?
people? places? etc)
Do you know what you will be shooting from, rib? other boat?
Where is the shoot?

G
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

Click to expand...

Hi Chas,

chasg said:

As for the job, I'm going to be based on the boat for a week and
will be doing everything from interiors (I'm considering bringing
my pano gear, but it's pretty heavy) to exteriors and shots while
in harbour (hopefully in scenic places, I'd like to get some stock
as well, not that the stock market has a future, imho). No access
to a second boat, unfortunately (but maybe we'll join a regatta,
and I can get some additiional stock shots, here's hoping!). We're
sailing off Brittany (no easy Med voyage for us

Click to expand...

If you're in Brittany, you could always get the overnight ferry and drive you'll get there at 7:30 in the morning, that way you can take as much stuff as you want The roads over there are an easy drive, a lot better than over here and if you're driving to heathrow, it's only another hour and a bit to Portsmouth Anyway worth bearing in mind if there's a next time

Interiors, I tend to do a CWB, and use a tripod, if you can put some white sheets over the windows (or prop the cushions from the forward cabin along the side) it will stop you getiing harsh shadows inside, or you could wait until dusk when the sky goes that lovely azure blue and shoot then..Maybe use a bit of fill in (or bounce) flash on a lead just to sharpen things up. Try not to use the flash on the camera, you tend to get hotspots on the bulkheads, take it off camera at around 45º copy lighting

Exteriors. Unless it's a sunny - cloudy - sunny - cloudy day with the sun going in an out...use manual metering in normal sunshine it will be 1/1000th @5.6(1/500@f8) @100, if it's a really bright day from 12-2pm you might have to go to stop down 1/2 a stop to f6.7 (f9.5) Don't use in camera metering cos white fibreglass and deep blue water (and sky fingers Xed) tend to confuse it, when you're shooting on a wangle and go to a zoom, it will tell you different readings. Basic stuff I know, but forewarned is forearmed

Cos you'll be shooting sailing boats you won't have that much control about the directiong you can go in.....if you just want cockpit shots, don't be afraid to motorsail in the right direction to get the light right, just make sure the correct jib sheet is tight on a winch so it "looks" like you're sailing

Horizon!..the horizon is always horizontal! Boats sailing up and down hills are bad usless you really tilt the camera to make slanty horizons look like you meant that...it might seem obvious, but when you have angled lines in your frame it's easy to make them look straight at the expense of the horizon

If there's no wind, go up the mast and shoot down...as long as the sails are filled and you're motoring gently, it can look like you're sailing

You realise I'm giving you all my secrets here!!! :-D

Don't knock stock stuff, The mags are always looking out for it if you get any atmospheric landscape pics get in touch (google)

chasg said:

I'm using a D2X, so it's weather sealed, but I'm wondering if you
have any tips in dealing with a salt-sea atmosphere (when shooting
on the coast of the Med last month while on holiday, I wiped the
camera and lenses down with a fresh-water dampened cloth at the end
of each day).

Click to expand...

This is what I do...

First wipe down the camera with WD40, it's great for cleaning and lubricating...waterproof seals are fine til salt water gets in them, drys out and becomes salt! buttons stick, then corrodes :-(

So after a good clean, cover all the buttons with insulation tape (99p). This will also protect the shiny new looks of yer camera...you might need to add bits of thin plastic where the buttons are to stop the tape sticking the buttons down then get some duct tape and protect the bottom, hand grip and prism and anything else that might get dented/scratched...with wet hands or bumpy boats accidents can happen...every season replace it and clean the gunk off with WD40 before starting again

In the end you'll have a camera that looks like this :
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2531708

I hope that helps...I know some of it was basic, but I don't know what level you're at

Good luck, have fun and take care

btw, if you have a lot of stuff round your neck, wear a life jacket...it's hard to swim with gear weighing you down!

G
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578

dogwood said:

Practical Photography magazine did a test in the current issue
(well, current in the US... may be last months issue in the UK) of
a Pelican case with a camera and some eggs inside-- they even
dropped it off a waterfall if I remember correctly! One egg did
break in the final test-- the camera kept working though.

--
Pete Springer
http://www.petespringer.com

Click to expand...

Read the article, bought the case... WOW. The case is built like a tank.. it is just the right size to be accepted on-board under the current size restrictions...

'The dimensions of the hand luggage must not exceed 45cm x 35cm x 16cm (17.7in x 13.7in x 6.2in approx), including wheels, handles, side pockets, etc. This is equivalent to a small laptop bag or rucksack.'

But oviously tough enough to be checked in if required (i.e. last minute changes to carry ons.)

It is fairly small but large enough for a 5D and couple of lenses... I'll post some pictures of my plucking attempts shortly...

Chris

--
http://www.pixelstate.com

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/FFD1D63F-714F-4306-8F82-6226864C4F56/Chris+Sargent.html

The way I did mine was to just draw round with a felt pen, leaving at least 4 block between one an the other...where I did try to cram something in and left 2 or 3 the blocks came loose, so don't be tempted it will last longer with 4
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://grahamsnook.wordpress.com/

AH Brilliant!

--
Meow
http://public.fotki.com/LindoPhotography/

Wow, is there anything you dont know?

That cameras pretty ugly with those modifications
But as long as it works.

--
Meow
http://public.fotki.com/LindoPhotography/